Where "Dial" Comes From
Derived from the face of a clock or telephone dial, this informal metaphor settled into Australian slang in the early 20th century.
It commonly appears in colourful Australian warnings and threats like 'a kick in the dial' or telling someone to 'wipe that smile off your dial.'
Source:
“He had a big grin on his dial when he saw the trophy.”
“You'll cop it if you show your dial around here again.”
"Wipe that cheeky grin off your dial before the teacher comes in."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Used when telling someone to wipe a smirk off their face or watch where they're looking.
In everyday talk, dial almost always appears in a set phrase rather than on its own. Someone might tell a mate to "get that look off your dial", or joke that a surprise will "wipe the smile off your dial". It is informal and a little old-fashioned, so it can sound gruff or jokey, and it is heard more from older speakers, though younger people use it knowingly.
Unlike "face", which is neutral, dial suggests attitude: a smirk, a scowl, a cheeky grin or a look of cheek. It is also mostly used in warnings and teasing, not in describing what someone looks like. You would not say "she has a lovely dial" unless you were being deliberately quirky. Learners should treat it as a colourful alternative to "face" for informal chat and remember that it works best in idioms. Using it in serious writing would sound out of place.
See also: Tickets on Yourself (the sort of smug look a dial gives away), Show pony (showy attitude), Boofhead (another informal person word).
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